Founded in 1949 in the heart of San Diego, USD has grown to become a premier institution dedicated to providing academic excellence, Catholic intellectual and social traditions, and a top-notch liberal arts education for scholars of all faiths. USD is committed to the intellectual, spiritual, and overall development of its student body.

USD’s mission captures the values that have made it a prominent Catholic university, a vibrant institution of quality higher education, and an Ashoka U Changemaker Campus.

A USD education combines the vibrancy of the liberal arts with academic rigor in a supportive learning community. USD offers a wide variety of majors and specializations, allowing students to pursue their passions. Faculty members are distinguished scholars and devoted teachers who promote an interactive learning environment.

Faculty collaborate one-on-one with undergraduate and graduate students on research, scholarship and creative activity, allowing students to experience the excitement of original discovery.

USD’s emphasis on academic excellence, intellectual rigor and global citizenship showcases our commitment to each student. USD offers the intellectual environment that will inspire you to begin shaping your future. By becoming a Torero, you are becoming part of the more than 60-year-long history of dedicated Changemakers.

Our students strive for academic excellence and take great pride in serving their communities. At USD, students learn to think critically, act globally and work collaboratively to achieve their full potential.

USD offers students endless opportunities to connect with the campus, the community, and each other. With nearly 200 clubs and organizations, countless sports and residence hall activities, guest lectures, community service opportunities and wellness programs, Toreros have every resource necessary to maximize their USD experience.

USD has an active, thriving campus community. In addition to its sublime setting — enhanced by an average 300 days of sunshine each year — USD offers students an abundance of academic programs, facilities and resources.

Even to the casual eye, it's apparent that the campus runs like a well-oiled machine, in large part due to our hard working team members, all dedicated to making sure that the USD student experience is reflective of the distinctive quality that the university is known for.

More than 1500 full-time and 750 part-time employees worked at USD in 2011, in capacities ranging from faculty to food service to administration to groundskeeper.

The USD community is comprised of many diverse individuals. To assist with the various aspects of personal and professional development, the university provides various offices, programs and services. Gateways provides links to some of the areas that might be of interest to you.

From the moment you step on our beautiful campus you can see that USD is exceptional.

The University of San Diego’s Division of Continuing Education will launch a new art certificate program in May. The program “Business for the Arts and Nonprofit Art Organizations” (BANAO) was designed to meet the needs of the art professional and foster creative alliances, so he or she can confidently overcome the challenges of today’s art market. A free Informational Session will be held at USD’s Manchester Executive Conference Center on Tuesday, April 21 from 6-7pm for potential students to meet instructors and learn about the program.

The program’s mission is to provide the necessary skills so that students and working professionals can understand the challenges of the art market. This unique certificate is directed to the art and cultural sector including art executives, artists, art marketing professionals and gallery owners who want to gain more knowledge about their profession. The program aims to provide students with the “Best Practices” for managing an auction house, gallery, museum, theatre or foundation. Workshop topics include fundraising, leadership, management strategies and the application of new technologies for marketing. The program is composed of 10 modules or 96-120 hours and students will meet two consecutive days on a monthly basis.

According to the 2002 Commission for the Arts Report in San Diego, some 85 nonprofit arts and culture organizations contributed an estimated $217 million to the local economy. Jodi Waterhouse, Manager of Corporate and Professional Programs for the Division of Continuing Education commented “Art professionals need to be aware of the impact that arts and culture have on the economy and learn how to develop partnerships to maximize financial opportunities, lead, promote and advocate for the arts with the right skills.”

In addition, San Diego’s cultural environment is influenced by its neighbor city of Tijuana; therefore, it is vital to introduce our students to Mexico’s art market. According to Waterhouse, “The arts certificate program has a bi-national perspective that distinguishes it from other art business programs in the nation and will serve the needs of art professionals on both sides of the border.”

For more information regarding this program and registration please contact Karla Duarte, Academic Art Program Coordinator at kduarte@sandiego.edu or (619) 260-5986 or go to www.sandiego.edu/businessforarts. The University of San Diego is located at 5998 Alcalá Park, San Diego, CA 92110.

The University of San Diego's Office of Corporate and Professional Education provides a variety of training opportunities that are designed to give companies working within the national and international business arena the competitive edge. Specific training programs are developed to help top executives lead effectively, middle managers manage efficiently, administrative staff support proficiently, as well as provide the business skills and tools for sales forces that are necessary to build a company's market share and ensure its continued growth and success.